Adam - Giselle / Nureyev, Seymour, Mason, Bavarian State Ballet
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Lynn Seymour, Monica Mason, Rudolf NureyevDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 78 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-12-21
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Kultur Video
Movie Reviews of Adam - Giselle / Nureyev, Seymour, Mason, Bavarian State Ballet
Movie Review: A common man's point of view.
Summary: 4 Stars
I hope you have read all of the above reviews, because they all have good points to consider.
My only objection to the ballet is the length, as it is only 78 minutes. Almost no peasant dances and a condensed 2nd act also, for which there could be NO excuse. That's why we buy "Giselle" for goodness sake. I bought this version on Ivy Lin's recommendation, knowing for instance, that Lynn Seymour was a little heavy. In spite of that she played a beautiful Giselle, and I'm sure there are a few heavy weights out there who can identify with her. The only thing she could not do was fly, but her dancing was good, she looked good in her mad scene, and rather than hiding her face in her hands, like some, she acted her part with expression. I felt sympathy for her Giselle. A lot has been said about the fact that Giselle kills herself with Albrecht's sword, and the act of suicide is not how the original version portrayed her death. In all five of my versions, suicide is used. Death from a broken heart would be more heart rending for us, but actresses who could convince us would be hard to find. The only one I've seen who has come close to convincing me is Karen Kain in the Canadian version. I think (correct me if I'm wrong) some Churches forbid burial on so called sacred ground (Church cemetery) when suicide is the cause of death, which is the reason Giselle is buried on unconsecrated ground in the Forest. My understanding is, that because of her act of forgiveness, Giselle freed her spirit of wondering the dark Forests for all eternity with Myrtha and the other Wilis.
Monica Mason IS Myrtha (Meer-ta). She is the best Myrtha of them all. Scary is the word for it. The lighting added to the eerie atmosphere of the night-time Forrest, as everything is back-lit, except for low intensity spotlights on the principles. Some of the white dancing in the 2nd act was abbreviated so much and the music was sped up to the point that if you blinked you are apt to miss the spectacular dance of the Wilis when they hop on one foot in the arabesque. I have never heard that music played so fast in any Giselle. It is so beautiful, why not slow it down instead? Lynn's Giselle shows a tender forgiveness for Albrecht's carelessness in love. I have wondered, however, if the Princess Bathilde, his former fiance, ever forgives him. I have heard that there is a version showing her (Bathilde) coming to reclaim Albrecht. Does anyone know?
This was a film sound stage production, and may not have had a live orchestra. It certainly had no audience. It is claimed to be Dolby 2.0 sound. The video format is 4:3 ratio.
P.S. I now have a sixth version of Giselle by the Australian Ballet, staring Christine Walsh, and Kelvin Coe. I found it on Amazon.UK. I have been looking for another ballet with Christine Walsh for a year, and fortunately found this one, which is very good. The Australian Ballet version is the only version in my collection of six, where Giselle does NOT stab herself with Albrecht's sword. She attempts to, but is prevented by Albrecht. She dies of heart failure, and is quite convincing in her portrayal of a frail young girl with a weak heart, and driven to utter destruction by anxiety and betrayal. Her mad scene is very well done, but the producers foolishly had her in close-up when she picked the Daisey for the, "he loves me, he loves me not" scene.
Summary of Adam - Giselle / Nureyev, Seymour, Mason, Bavarian State Ballet
Ballet great Rudolf Nureyev stara as Albrecht in a lovely production of the dance perennial. This was one of Nureyev's greatest successes in his native Russia and he has performed the role around the world ever since. Giselle-perhaps the quintessential ballet heroine is danced by the great Canadian prima Ballerina Lynn Seymour. Nureyev's production brings this timeless tradegy of love found, lost and redeemed to life.Educational DVD Video
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